More on the Clutter Around Dalston Junction
I now avoid Dalston Junction as much as I can because of the bad pedestrian routes, as I want to go on my terms and not those of a driver who feels pedestrians are targets to be hit. However today, I wanted to explore an address to the east of the station, so I had no excuse but to try and walk up the Kingsland Road and turn into Dalston Lane.
Pavement Clutter at Dalston Junction
The picture illustrates why I said try and walk. note the several advertising hoardings and the cafe encroaching towards the road.
As it was sunny and I’m feeling better, I was able to get through and then had to cross Dalston Lane and walk down an equally restricted narrow pavement on the north side of that road. There was nowhere to cross until a set of pedestrian lights, well past the station. One point I noticed, was that if you had wanted to take say a 30 bus to Hackney Wick, you’d have to walk some way to the stop and where it was wasn’t at all obvious. In the end I walked south and then used Forest Road to get back to the Kingsland Road. At least I was able to ascertain, that the bus station at Dalston Junction appeared to be complete.
opening the Southern entrance to the station would make things so much better and safer.
The Anonymous Widower 
Near where I live is a shopping street, partly pedestrianised, partly not. It has the usual supermarket, a couple of banks, a couple of chain bakerys etc. And it has a couple of cafes. It isnt in a wealthy area, there are several pound shops, and I guess you would say it was a bit “chavvy”. I was there because the pharmacy is excellent, itis the one I always use, and I noticed the cafes now have little tables and chairs outside. On the narrow pavements, they arent in the pedestrianised bit. I thought this was really odd, I noticed a couple of cafes and sandwich shops in Cheadle doing the same thing, again on narrow pavements.
It eventually dawned on me that the cafes in question were ones which would have allowed smoking in the past, and now have tables outside for people who want to eat and smoke at the same time.
Making it difficult for everyone, but impossible for mum’s with pushchairs, especially double ones, and people like me in a scooter.
Comment by liz | April 8, 2011 |